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4/20/2017, 10:15am

Gophers don't rely on superstition to win baseball games, but it helps

Minnesota doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary as a team to maintain success, but some habits have formed over the the season.

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Superstition in baseball is nothing new, but the 22-10 Gophers
have developed their own style.

No, there’s no live praying mantis, like the one in the dugout of
the Kansas City Royals – known as the Rally Mantis – which helped the team in a
stretch that saw 18 victories out of 22 games.

No one wears a thong to get out of a slump at the plate – like
Jason Giambi used to do – but there are still simple and effective routines
that the team has employed when things are going well.

A well-producing lineup, a nearly flawless defense and a
consistent bullpen are the logistic reasons for Minnesota’s success, there’s
some superstition involved, too.

“Usually we would pray in fair territory before the game. We decided
we were kind of struggling, we were like ‘Let’s go to foul territory and pray,’
and that’s when we went on a 12-game winning streak,” said junior Toby Hanson.

The team prayed in foul territory before its victory against South
Dakota State on Tuesday.

Hanson said that is not the only routine that has developed over
the streak – some traditions have even gone by the wayside.

Before, the position players would have a hitter’s meeting with
the hitting coach, Patrick Casey, before every game. Casey got sick before a
game against Sacramento State on March 17, so there was no meeting that day.
That was the first win of the 12-game win streak.